Children's Classic THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH Comes To Life On Carpenter Center Stage

Generations of devoted readers have marveled at the endlessly inventive world and wordplay of Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth. On Saturday, March 23rd, 2019 at 4pm at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center, located on the campus of California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), the children's story once again enthralls with an equally inspired production by Enchantment Theatre Company.

Follow Juster's hero Milo, a bored boy who feels there's nothing for me to do, nowhere I'd care to go, and hardly anything worth seeing. When a magical tollbooth appears in his bedroom, Milo embarks on an adventure that has become a singular classic of the unexpected and the surprising. At Carpenter Center, the book's wit and wordplay share the stage with fanciful puppets and masks, special effects, and an original music score in a production authorized by both the author and the book's illustrator, Jules Feiffer.

This family-friendly performance, recommended for ages 6 11 (and their parents), transports the audience to the world of the Lands Beyond to rescue Princesses Rhyme and Reason. Boredom is banished as Milo cultivates newfound curiosity, empathy, and a love of learning as he discovers life's possibilities. Whether new to the tale or a devotee, youngsters will delight in seeing Tock the ticking watchdog come to life, as well as Humbug the bowler hat-wearing bug; Azaz the King of Words; and the Mathemagician, the King of Numbers. Older audience members will appreciate Juster's sense of irony and the rich and humorous wordplay that has made this classic resonate with generations.

Tickets for THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. For tickets and more information, visit CarpenterArts.org/Tollboth or call the Carpenter Center Ticket Office at (562) 985-7000. The 2018-2019 Season at Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center is made possible, in part, by season media partner KPCC 89.3-FM.

Founded in 2000 and based in Philadelphia, the Enchantment Theatre Company presents original works from classic children's literature including tales from Peter Rabbit, Mother Goose, and Scheherazade, all with the aim of transforming young audiences into creative, curious, and compassionate adults.